When Oakland designer and builder Stephen Schoup's firm, <a href="http://buildinglab.com/" target="_blank">building Lab inc</a>, grew too big for his old backyard workshop, he thought long and hard on how to increase his workspace in a sustainable way. After much deliberation, he settled on an L-shaped <a href="http://inhabitat.com/la-warehouse-office-is-a-shipping-container-city/">shipping container office</a> space where he could incorporate many of the leftover materials and supplies he had laying around. The newly created <a href="http://www.greenbuildingadvisor.com/blogs/dept/green-building-blog/creating-urban-oasis-green-live-work-space-blooms-gritty-city-lot" target="_blank">backyard office</a> balances the warehouse-style home and creates a charming courtyard in between.

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Schoup Live Work Container Conversion

Schoup brought in two shipping containers and placed them together in an L-shape to create a permeable courtyard, which opened up the space up to the surrounding views and the sun.

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Schoup Live Work Container Conversion

He and his wife planted a row of bamboo along the eastern edge of the property to give the space definition and block the views towards their neighbor's house.

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Schoup Live Work Container Conversion

The containers were placed on pier foundations, a far simpler and less resource-intensive process as compared with standard foundation.

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Schoup Live Work Container Conversion

The exterior of the containers were insulated and clad in cement board siding, salvaged lumber from deconstruction and leftover redwood siding to create a warm look. The structure was also painted to match the exterior of the house.

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Schoup Live Work Container Conversion

Energy efficient lighting and windows provide lighting for the interior, which was finished with Homasote (recycled newspaper) panels instead of drywall.

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Schoup Live Work Container Conversion

Schoup made good use of leftover and extra materials he had laying around from other jobs, rather than buying brand new materials.
The floors were finished off with sustainably harvested cork flooring.

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Schoup Live Work Container Conversion

The new container office creates a charming courtyard with permeable paving materials.

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Schoup Live Work Container Conversion

The large lot and home/work space is now complete.

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Schoup Live Work Container Conversion

A view off the back deck into the home's kitchen.

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Schoup Live Work Container Conversion

Previously Schoup had already remodeled his home into a beautiful two bedroom residence for his family.

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Schoup Live Work Container Conversion

The large, bright, white kitchen space.

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Schoup Live Work Container Conversion

The master bedroom with built in storage and a raised platform bed.

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Schoup Live Work Container Conversion

A layout of the home and the backyard office.

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Schoup Live Work Container Conversion

When Oakland designer and builder Stephen Schoup's firm, building Lab inc, grew too big for his old backyard workshop, he thought long and hard on how to increase his workspace in a sustainable way. After much deliberation, he settled on an L-shaped shipping container office space where he could incorporate many of the leftover materials and supplies he had laying around. The newly created backyard office balances the warehouse-style home and creates a charming courtyard in between.